HEICO - Award-Winning Innovation
HEICO gains recognition as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany at prestigious awards ceremony presented by Ranga Yogeshwar
Ense-Niederense - Success as a result of entrepreneurial foresight: On 26th June HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH achieved recognition as one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in the country at the German summit for medium-sized companies held in Essen. At the summit Top-100 mentor, journalist and author Rangar Yogeshwar honored HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH with the Top-100 seal, which for over 20 years has been awarded to the one hundred most innovative companies in Germany.
HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH, based in Ense-Niederense, is the worldwide leading manufacturer of upholstery nails, decorative nails and security nails and for more than 115 years the family-owned company has been producing high quality fastening systems. "The secret of our success is that we never shy away from being innovative", declares General Manager Jan Bernd Heimann. HEICO´s constant efforts in the development of new products helped the company to withstand the global economic crisis of 2008/2009 without having to resort to staff layoffs. At peak times more than 30 employees are responsible for the research and development of new products. The development of the in-house machine park originates from this period, "Only a few decades ago there were many manufacturers of upholstery nails for the furniture industry" Mr Heimann explained, "But today, not even the machines are sold anymore".
With its 13 worldwide subsidiaries and more than 400 employees HEICO has increased it's presence in the global market and has even been able to gain an impressive market share in China of more than 80 percent. Technically, HEICO is more than 10 years ahead of its competitors with new ideas and products being made possible as a result of HEICO´s close cooperation with leading furniture manufacturers and innovative marketing activities. HEICO´s own testing lab for screws and bolts has been established in order to assist customers in finding the optimum solutions to their needs and their participation in international fairs and symposiums, as well as regular workshops for customers, has helped to further promote HEICO's products.
According to Mr. Heimann the fast implementation of good ideas is a key competitive factor. That is why HEICO has put a lot of effort into its innovation management, effort which has now been recognised with this prestigious award. The Top-100 award is based upon a two-stage scientific analysis developed by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke and his team from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. A company‘s innovation management and success is evaluated by more than 100 parameters in five different categories. The final decision is then made by the academic leadership.
This year, Dr. Franke and his team had to consider an unprecedented number of applications. From an initial 302 companies who entered, 234 made it into the final of this year's competition with these companies then divided into three equal sized groups. 178 companies were finally awarded with the Top-100 seal (a maximum of 100 companies in each group) with the prizes being awarded at the German summit for medium-sized companies in Essen, Germany.
The Top-100 are worthy award-winners in every respect. Among them are 71 national leaders and even 31 world leaders with two-thirds of the Top-100 companies being family-owned businesses. 3,405 pantents were registered by these companies within the last three years with approximately 41 percent of their revenues being realized by improved products and technology new to the market (the German average is 6 percent). This success was not just a matter of chance, on average these companies reinvest 10.5 percent of their revenues in research and development of new products whereas the German average is 1.5 percent.
In accepting the award Mr. Heimann offered his thanks and appreciation to his employees, whose ideas and commitment made winning the Top-100 accolade possible.